Finding Joy in Philippians
Background: For the next three weeks, we will be studying the Book of Philippians, another of Paul's letters from his Roman prison. In Philippi, men were using Paul's imprisonment as proof he was not genuine and seeking to undermine his authority. Many in the church were shaken at the fact that the Apostle was imprisoned. He wrote the letter to explain his imprisonment and to encourage his readers to walk in joy despite all the evil in the world.
Philippians is not nearly as easily outlined at Ephesians was - it is much more personal and exhortational compared to the theological intent of Ephesians. Philippians was the church that was founded when Paul received the vision of the Macedonian man saying, "Come and help us."
As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage.
Today's Reading: Philippians 1-4 Focus Passage - Philippians 2:9-11
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Through the Bible Readings: Jeremiah21-22, Ephesians 4:1–16, Psalm 115:1–7, Proverbs 24:26–27
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Jesus' Name
These verses finish our ancient hymn of the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Christ. After Jesus humbled himself obediently to die on the Cross for the sins of the world (his humility and obedience serving as the example for us), he was raised from the dead and exalted to God's right hand. This exaltation of Christ is a common theme in Scripture. To this exalted name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess.
The name of Jesus. There's power in the name of Jesus, right?
Yes, there is, but we often miss the truth of what this passage is saying. It isn't about the name "Jesus" but about the name of Jesus, the one which was conferred on him officially and eternally at his exaltation.
Remember Moses' conversation with God when he was called to go to Egypt? God revealed his name, Yahweh, the "I am." There are actually three primary names for God in the Old Testament. El, or Elohim, is translated "God." The name Adonai is generally translated Lord (the ord are small). Adonai means master - one who is in authority. God's name, his covenant identity, is Yahweh, which is translated LORD (the ORD in small capital letters). Rooted in the Hebrew word "I am" it speaks to God as the "self-existent" Lord of all.
Remember in the Gospel of John when Jesus kept saying, "I am this" and "I am that." This made the Pharisees very nervous because when he spoke those words in Hebrew, they heard the hints of God's sacred name. In a particularly intense exchange, Jesus made a stunning statement. After a lengthy argument he said, "Before Abraham was born, I am" (in John 8:58). He didn't say, "I was" which would have claimed pre-existence. He said, "I am." The Jewish leaders wanted to kill him because they realized what he was doing - he was claiming deity. He was saying, "I am Yahweh, the Sovereign Lord of Heaven." In fact, if Jesus was not who he said he was, then they would have been justified in their actions!
Now, we come to our text today. When God exalted Jesus, he gave him the "name that is above every name." From its first revelation, that name is God's covenant name, Yahweh, the Great I Am. When he rose from the dead and was exalted to the Father's right hand, Jesus was clearly, unequivocally, and without a doubt demonstrated to be the Lord God of Heaven. At the name of Jesus - Yahweh - every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. What do they confess? That Jesus is "Lord." Yahweh.
This passage isn't about the name Jesus, but the name that was officially conferred on him at his exaltation. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is Yahweh God, the Lord of Heaven, supreme over all.
Father, today I bow my knee before your Son who deserves the Name above every name. I confess that he is Lord of all.
Think and Pray:
Take time today to praise the name of Yahweh, Jesus Christ, the Lord of Heaven.
Bow before him as Lord and confess his supremacy over all things.
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